July is a special time for the Dynamics. It was on a July morning almost thirty-three years ago that the Dynamics were first introduced to the rest of the world during a Bicentennial celebration. This 1976 Fourth of July parade was the first public performance for Linda Alford’s new group, but their renown would soon grow. Over the next ten years, they would spend many July and August days competing and winning numerous local championships for their twirling skills. And it was on a July morning in 1988 that their fame would spread across the country with the Dynamics’ first national title, Tiny Tot Dance Twirl Team Champions. From this point on, they would be the recipients of at least one national title every year at the National Baton Twirling Association’s championships in South Bend, Indiana.

Over the past thirty years, the name Dynamics has come to mean excellence and stability in the sport of baton twirling. They are consistent winners in both the team and individual competitions at the state, regional, and national levels. Over the years, the Dynamics have been home to multiple Miss Majorettes of America and Grand National Twirling Champions, the highest individual honors in the country for twirlers.  Members of the team have also been selected to be representatives of the U.S.A. at six different World Championships in France, England, Holland, and Belgium. They have come home with seven team gold medals to date in addition to multiple medals won in individual competition. Their most recent trip to worlds in Belgium resulted in two gold members for the Senior Dance Twirl and Twirl team. Kaitlyn Boyer and Briana Rohrer also won the Preteen Duet division and Bailey Frankel received the bronze medal in Juvenile Rhythmic Twirl and Strut. Team members have also had the great honor to be selected as Good Will Ambassadors in Lima, Peru.

At the most recent National championships this summer, the Dynamics won five National Team titles:  Senior Small Dance, Senior Large Dance, Senior Small Twirl, Junior Small Twirl Team and Juvenile Small Twirl. They were also rewarded for their creativity with the Mike Moore and Sandy Myer awards given to the highest scoring team in the artistry and choreography captions. Brittany Frankel is the current Junior Grand National Twirling Champion.

There are approximately thirty-five girls on the team ranging in age from four to twenty-four. Dynamics members join the team as young girls and grow up competing under the positive influence of older members, many of whom have already been parts of the winning tradition. Members often travel long distances to be a part of this prominent twirling team. The team practices in Elkridge, Maryland and although most families live in the Baltimore/Washington Metro area, some girls travel from West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and even Connecticut.  Over ten of our members have been Feature Twirlers for major U.S. Universities, such as the Universities of Maryland, South Carolina, Miami, and Penn State University.  Currently two feature twirlers at Virginia Tech and one at the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus have Dynamics athletes as up front and center members of their marching bands.

One reason for the Dynamics’ success is their coaching staff. Linda Alford, founder and director, leads the team. Since 1976,  she has taught young girls to twirl and at the same time instilled in them the desire to achieve excellence in all aspects of their lives. She has been their coach, their role model and their mentor. Her talent and instincts for this sport are unmatched. Linda has passed on her talents to daughters Kristi Alford Taylor and Stacey Alford Boyer. Between them they hold 4 national and world championship titles.  Kristi and Stacey will continue to inspire members into the next generation. Another member of the staff is Glenn Bittenbender.  A previous world champion, Glenn shares the responsibility for the Dynamics’ unique style with Kristi and Linda.  Finally, Robin Schmitt works with the youngest members of the team as well as keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes.